For people with HIV who are currently taking specific medications (including Sustiva (efavirenz)) and have no detectable viral load, this study tracks how patients do if they take their medications for five days of the week compared with seven days of the week.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Weekly Schedule of Five Consecutive Days on Treatment With Efavirenz, Tenofovir, and Emtricitabine Followed by Two Days Off Treatment (5/2 Intermittent Treatment Schedule) Versus Continuous Treatment in Individuals With Virologic Suppression on This Combination

Quality of Life [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Participant preference of antiretroviral (ART) regimen determined on a scale ranging from 0 to 10. O was defined as "I Perfer taking HIV medications 7 days/week" and 10 was defined as "I perfer 5 days on and 2 days off". We present results of a single question on quality of life experienced while on their study ART regimen.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate virologic control of a weekly schedule of 5 days of treatment followed by two days off treatment versus continuous treatment with the same regimen. This is a larger study based on the results of our successful pilot study using the same protocol. The 48 week, phase IV trial addresses the issues of the high cost of HIV treatment, adherence problems associated with daily treatment, and cumulative toxicities. Virologic and immunologic parameters, drug levels of efavirenz, adherence, and toxicity will be measured. Subjects will have to be seen at CRI for 6 visits after randomization. Subjects randomized to daily therapy will cross over to 5/2 therapy at 24 weeks if their viral load remains undetectable.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 65 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18 years or older

CD4 count > or = 200

Viral load < 50

Treatment with a regimen containing efavirenz and tenofovir and lamivudine or emtricitabine for at least 90 days prior to screening

Exclusion Criteria:

Detectable HIV RNA on an ultrasensitive assay within the 90 days preceding screening

Prior evidence of intermediate or high level resistance to efavirenz, tenofovir or cytidine analogues

Hepatitis B infection

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00414635